The P.J. Tierney nine-piece orchestra playing in
the Crofton Hotel, Carlow, in 1956. A self taught musician Pa Joe played
in many bands before starting his own in 1949. The Glen Miller hit
‘American Patrol’ was the band’s signature tune. Pictured here are, left
to right: Michael Foley, Sean Byrne, Jim Downey, John Hutton, P.J.
Tierney, Bertie Whelan, Michael Byrne, Colette Dempsey and Bobby Kearns.
His idol was the jazz musician Louis ‘Satchmo’ Armstrong. When requested
to sing in latter years Pa Joe’s theme song was ‘What a Wonderful
World’: